Bureau of Meteorology issues severe weather warning as wind gusts hit NSW, Victoria

Aussies are being warned to prepare as damaging wind speeds and gusts of up to 90km/h strike the southeastern states.

Australians across the southeast are being warned to prepare for a wild and windy on Wednesday, as severe winds and damaging gusts of up to 90km/h move across NSW and Victoria.

In a severe weather alert issued on Wednesday morning, the Bureau of Meteorology said “damaging winds” would likely hit parts of the Illawarra, South Coast, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands and the Snowy Mountains in NSW across Wednesday and East Gippsland in Victoria.

“A cold front will continue to move across the southeast of the state during Wednesday,” the bureau’s warning states.

“Strong northwest to westerly winds will affect elevated areas and their immediate downwind slopes.

The severe weather warning area for NSW for Wednesday. Picture: BOM

“Strong winds averaging 50 to 60km/h with damaging wind gusts to around 90km/h are likely for parts of the Southern and Central Tablelands and inland of areas of the South Coast, the Illawarra and the Southern Highlands.

“Locations which may be affected include Nowra, Bowral, Braidwood, Katoomba, Nerriga and Captains Flat.”

The bureau said it had recorded a gust of 98km/h at 3.46am at Mount Boyce, west of Sydney.

The damaging winds will likely strike Victoria and NSW across Wednesday before easing in the evening. Picture: BOM

In East Gippsland, strong west to southwesterly damaging winds averaging 60 to 70km/h with peak gusts of about 90km/h were likely, the bureau said.

Meteorologist Angus Hines said the severe weather would likely ease from Wednesday evening.

“All the strong winds are out over the Tasman Sea and we have a high pressure area moving in to settle things down,” he said.

The NSW and Victorian SES advises residents to move vehicles under cover or away from trees, secure or put away loose items around the house, yard or balcony and keep at least 8m away from fallen power lines or objects that may be energised, such as fences.